Choosing the right driveway gravel is a very important decision in order to achieve the visual and practical result you want. There are many factors to consider before buying driveway gravel. These can include size, style, colour and maintenance.
In this blog, we will discuss all the aspects that you need to think about before picking the driveway gravel.
There are many advantages to using gravel as an alternative to other materials to transform a variety of areas around your property. If you are looking to enhance your property, laying a gravel driveway is a creative and cost-effective way to make improvements.
We have created a quick guide to inform you what sort of gravel you should use for your driveway to aid you in your decision-making process during the project.
Which stones for driveway can I use?
Stones for driveway must be hardwearing such as basalts, granites, flints and quartz. This is because it must withstand higher and heavier traffic. We also highly recommend selecting a stone that is darker in colour as it hides any dirt or dust that will accumulate over time.
As mentioned earlier, gravel driveways can be built from various decorative aggregates. However, ideal for driveways will be stones that have sharp and irregular edges. Such compacted aggregates will make the surface more durable and they will not start falling off, for example, when starting a car. Most of the time, broken or crushed aggregates will be the best option.
One type of gravel that needs to be avoided when building a gravel driveway is river gravel. This is because it has rounded edges, which would make the driveway unstable and they could easily be moved when walking on it or driving.
What size gravel should I use?
It is often recommended to use 20mm size stones rather than 10mm to create a gravel driveway. Whilst we argue both are perfectly suitable for use in a project, 10mm gravel can sometimes get caught in tyre treads of larger cars so a larger gravel may work better in some instances.
What depth should a gravel driveway have?
If you are using a 10mm aggregate to create your driveway, we suggest making the depth of the area 50mm thick.
However, if you are looking to use 20mm aggregates, you will need to make the depth of the driveway 50-60mm thick. This is because larger aggregates will settle and bond together better than smaller ones.
Advantages of using gravel
A gravel driveway is functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Gravel has many benefits, one of which is a low investment – the material is not expensive, and you won’t need to hire a team or rent construction machines to arrange it properly. Another beneficial factor is that a gravel driveway can be built much faster than surfaces made from cobblestone.
The advantages of using gravel to create your driveway are endless:
- Gravel is extremely low maintenance provided you have laid a fabric membrane down before laying the gravel as this suppresses the growth of weeds.
- It is also weather-resistant meaning it is a great choice of material to use, particularly within the UK where the weather changes frequently.
- Gravel is also great for drainage, as water can move through it a lot faster than it can through soil and other materials. This will help eliminate puddles developing on the driveway.
- Furthermore, gravel is highly durable which contributes to it affordability. In comparison to other alternatives like Natural stone paving and concrete, gravel is very cost–effective and is offered in a wide range of colours and sizes.
- It is also very simple to lay. Unlike other driveway surfaces, driveway gravel does not require hiring a professional landscaper.
- Lower costs are also advantageous. Driveway gravel is much cheaper than other materials such as tarmac or paving.
Stoneworld stock a wide range of coloured, sized and textured ornamental aggregates and gravel sourced from all over the world. We are one of the best driveway gravel suppliers in the UK. Our gravel is also available in bulk bags.
If you have any questions about our driveway gravel, please call us on 01844 279274 or email us at sales@stoneworld.co.uk and our team will be happy to help.
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